The Place of No Stars (book)/Chapter 15

"Bramblestar, I know what I'm doing! If I distract him, he can't control you. You have to go! Follow Squirrelflight! Get back to your body! Get back to the real world!"

— Shadowsight to Bramblestar in The Place of No Stars, page 189

The Place of No Stars (book)
Chapter number:	15 (of 23)
Page numbers:	176-191
Point of View:	Shadowsight
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter fifteen of The Place of No Stars (book). If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 15 (of 23)

Page Numbers: 176-191

Chapter description

Shadowsight and Snowtuft hide in the cover of a yew tree, watching Ashfur and Squirrelflight's confrontation. The tabby medicine cat worries over the ThunderClan leader, but also takes notice of how she appears much more alive than the gray warrior. While observing, he notices Bramblestar's body amongst the grass as he begins to conjure up a plan. Shadowsight reasons with himself that he wouldn't be able to take on Ashfur by himself, so he asks his companion. Snowtuft, however, declines out of fear and shock, telling Shadowsight of the island where Ashfur has been keeping spirits as prisoners. The medicine cat asks about the island, but the white tom gives him no further information regarding it. In frustration, Shadowsight decides to wait and returns to watching Squirrelflight and Ashfur while thinking of a different plan.

Squirrelflight and Ashfur argue with one another as the latter remains firm in his belief that she loves him. He tells her that they will be together despite her betrayal and that his power over both StarClan and the Dark Forest show that he is worthy. The dark ginger she-cat continues to decline his mouse-brained ideas and notions as he becomes angered each time, wondering why she continues to choice Bramblestar over himself. She turns away from him, but before she can leave Ashfur offers to show her something. He adds that it should be something to consider before attacking him. Looking on, Shadowsight becomes nervous and rightfully so as Ashfur leads the way towards the island. The medicine cat becomes briefly disorientated by the shifting landscape around them, and a thick gray fog rolling in. Looking towards the island, Shadowsight notices spirits on the shoreline, pacing back and forth along it. Horrifically, he recognizes a number of the spirits, spotting Spiresight and Stemleaf amongst them.

Ashfur presents the imprisoned spirits proudly to Squirrelflight and turns her attention to one spirit in particular, Bramblestar. The ThunderClan she-cat is shocked to see him, noting that everything she had been told had made it seem he was gone for good. Shadowsight emphathizes with the dark ginger she-cat at the sight of the dark tabby. The medicine cat feels hopeful as well, knowing that he has to find a way to get both ThunderClan cats back to the real world. He returns his attention to Ashfur and Squirrelflight, watching as Bramblestar's spirit joins them, under the spirit's control. Ashfur gloats about his hold over the tabby, but Squirrelflight retorts, calling him stupid as she now has a reason to fight for. Angered, Ashfur has Bramblestar attack her, which shocks the she-cat as she struggles against the large tom. Shadowsight watches in horror, knowing they should do something but Snowtuft states there isn't much they could do to help. Ashfur gloats about his willingness to destory her loved ones as Shadowsight resolves that he and Snowtuft have to do something.

He suggests they attack Ashfur so that his control over Bramblestar slips, possibly allowing the tabby to escape. Snowtuft questions him and states he's not willing to die for something so risky. He leaves, wishing Shadowsight good luck as he does. The medicine cat is left to watch Bramblestar continuing his controlled attacks on Squirrelflight. Shadowsight attempts to sneak up on Ashfur to follow through with his plan, but the gray spirit catches him and prepares to kill him. The younger tom waits for the immending attack, but it doesn't come as Ashfur spots a familiar cat in the distance who he calls to. Shadowsight tries to see them as well and gets a sense of familiarity from their shape. However, his plan works as Ashfur's control over Bramblestar slips enough to give him a moment to escape. He urges the pair to run and Squirrelflight runs ahead as Bramblestar falls under Ashfur's influence once again.

Ashfur calls after Squirrelflight and Shadowsight feels proud knowing he helped her escape, but knows he still needs to help Bramblestar. The gray spirit confronts Bramblestar, hurling insults and his anger at the tom. With him distracted, Shadowsight throws himself at Ashfur, sinking his teeth into his shoulder. Momentarily Bramblestar is free as Shadowsight tries to get him to run, but the tabby leader hesitates and lands under Ashfur's control again. With all the determination in him, the medicine cat attacks the spirit again and desperately urges Bramblestar to flee and not to hesitate again. Ashfur quickly gains the upperhand over the younger tom, but Shadowsight is glad to see Bramblestar flee from the island into the forest. Ashfur, in the meantime, grabs the medicine cat by the scruff and throws him into the dark water surrounding the island. It comes as a shock, but the tabby tom pushes himself back to the surface only to be attacked again. Beside him, Ashfur calls for Bramblestar and Shadowsight is pleased to see no sign of the tabby nor his mate as his vision fades to black.

Characters

Major

• Shadowsight
• Ashfur
• Squirrelflight
• Bramblestar

Minor

• Snowtuft
• Spiresight
• Conefoot
• Rosepetal
• Berrynose
• Stemleaf
• Several unnamed spirits
• Darkstripe
• Bristlefrost (Unnamed)